Feeler mechanism for looms



' l. SNOW. FEELER mEcHAmsM FOR LOOMS.

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Patented Feb."22, 1921.

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FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 8, I920.

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mumlunh QUIH UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC SNOV], OF LAWRENCE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR 'IO DRAPER CORPORATION, OF HOPEDALE'MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 22, 1921.

Application filed March 8, 1920. Serial No. 364,160.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Isaac SNOW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lawrence, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Feeler Mechanisms for Looms, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

The invention to be hereinafter described relates to feeler mechanisms for looms, through the agency of which replenishment of filling is effected from time to time.

Various forms of feeler mechanisms have been heretofore suggested. Some of these have measured or calipered the filling and have called for replenishment when the measured or ealipered quantity of filling has reached a degree of substantial exhaustion. In other types the feeler has been given a movement laterally 0r longitudinally of the shuttle when the filling has reached a predetermined degree of exhaustion and in response to such lateral or longitudinal movement of the feeler the train of mechanism for replenishing filling has been set in operation. The present invention relates to this general type of feeler mechanisms and an important feature of theinvention consists in a feeler which feels for the filling in the shuttle on a detecting beat 'and is pushed frontwardly by engagement with the surface within the shuttle, its front end being connected to a member for moving the front end of the feeler laterally to thereby increase its inclination to the longitudinal axis of the shuttle. This increase in the inclination of the feeler to the longitudinal axis of the shuttle on each detecting beat correspondingly increases its sensitiveness to movement longitudinally of the shuttle under the frontward pressure against it by a surface within the shuttle.

Another important feature of the present invention consists in a feeler having its front end connected to an arm for moving the front end laterally es the feeler itself is moved frontwardly, and a spring acting in addition to the irogrcssively increasing inclination of the feeler on a detecting beat to impart lateral movement or movement longitudinally of the shuttle.

The above general outlines of the invention, and other features and novel combinations of parts, will best be made clear from the following description and accompanymg drawings of one good-practical form of the invention:

In the drawings- Flgure 1 is a perspective view of the feeler side of a loom, some of the parts being omitted for clearness of illustration;

F g. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the feeler mechanism showing the operation thereof when a working supply of filling is present in the shuttle on a detecting beat;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to that of Fig. 2 showing the operation of the feeler mechanism when filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat.

The loom frame'l carries the usual brackets 2, one at each side of the loom, for supporting the transverse or rock shaft 3 which is of usual construction and is normally held in the position indicated in Fig. 1 by a spring, not shown, but which is common in this type of loom. Secured to and rising from the rock shaft 3 is the arm 4 to which is pivoted at 5 the latch6, the rear end portion 7 of which is adapted at times to be engaged by an operating member 8. The op erating member 8 maybe any convenient going part of a loom, but in the present instance it is conveniently connected to the cam follower.

The lay 9 has the usual shuttle box 10in which is received the shuttle 11 when it is dete ted from the opposite side of the loom. The shuttle 11 contains the filling carrier or bobbin 12 on which the filling 13 is wound. The shuttle box has the opening 14 in its front wall and the adjacent wall of the shuttle has an opening 15 adapted to register therewith when the shuttleis in the detecting box. The parts so far described may be of usual construction. I

Extending from the'loom frame is the shipper stand 16 from which extends the arm 17 for sustaining a support 18 on which is adjustably mounted the feeler stand or plate 19. The feeler stand or plate 19 may be of appropriate construction for supportlng the active parts of the feeler mechanism and as illustrated in the present instan e comprises a plate having a slot 20 through which ex- 7 within the shuttle on a detecting beat. At its front end portion the feeler is connected to an arm which, on frontward movement of the feeler by the frontward pressure against it on a detecting beat, swings or moves the front end portion of the feeler laterally. This lateral movement of the front end of the feeler serves to increase the inclination of the feeler to the longitudinal axis of the shuttle and correspondingly increase its sensitiveness for movement of its rear end laterally in the opposite direction under the frontward pressure. In the pres ent instance the feeler 22 has pivotally con nected to it at 24, Figs. 2 and 3, the arm 25 which is pivotally supported at 26 upon the feeler stand or plate 19, the construction being-such that as the feeler 22 is pushed frontwardly, the swinging arm 25 will move the front end of the feeler laterally, to the left [in the illustrated form of the invention.

The arm 25 has connected therewith the extension 27 which has movement transversely relative to the feeler 22. In the present instance the feeler 22 has an opening 28 formed as a guide-way through which extends the part 27 of the arm 25, and interposed between the shoulder 29 and the side of the feeler 22 is the spring 30. 'The spring 30 reacts between the feeler 22 and the arm 25. to yieldingly force the feeler into its rearward "feeling position, and tends to move the rear end of the feeler in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle opposite to the movement of the front end of the feeler on a detecting beat.

The movement of the feeler and action of the spring 30 are limited by suitable stops. In the present instance these stops are furnished by a bridge-piece 31 which straddles the feeler 22 near its front end portion and is secured to the feeler stand or plate 19, as clearly appears in Fig. 1. \Vhen the feeler 22 is in its rearward position, the arm 25 bears upon one leg of the bridge 31 as indicated in Fig. 1, and the sideof the feeler as at 32, rests against the other leg of the bridge .31, the parts thus being in normal feeling position.

The construction of the feeler mechanism is such that when a working supply of filling is present in the shuttle on a detecting beat, the feeler receives the frontward pressure against its toothed end 23 of the mass of filling 13, and the teeth sink into the V filling as the feeler is pushed frontwardly from the dotted line position, Fig. 2, tothe full line position. As the feeler is thus pushed frontwardly by the frontward pressure of the surface within the shuttle on a detecting beat, the arm 25 moves or swings the front end of the feeler laterally, to the left in the present instance, and increases the inclination of the feeler with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shuttle and thereby similarly increases the sensitiveness of the feeler to the tendency of the frontward pressure upon it to move the rear end of the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle. The teeth at the rear end of the feeler, however, having sunk into the filling, prevent movement of the rear end of the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle so long asa working supply of filling is present. Under these conditions, also, the spring 30 is given an increasing tension as the feeler is moved frontwardly, so that the increasing inclination of the feeler during a detecting beat and the increasing tension of the spring 30 at the same time, exert a tendency on the rear end of the feeler to move it along the filling carrier longitudinally thereof in a direction opposite to the movement of the front end of the feeler by the arm 25.

\Vhen filling is sul istantiallyv absent on a detecting beat, the end ofthe feeler will no longer be held from movement longitudinally of the filling carrier by the frontwar'd pressure against it, and as'the feeler moves front wardly and assumes a more inclined relation to the longitudinal axis of the shuttle on-a detecting beat, the frontward pressure causes the rear end of the feeler to slide along the filling carrier or bobbin longitudinally thereof, as indicated in Fig. .3. Advantage is taken of the side or lateral movement of the rear end of the feeler on a detecting beat to call into action the replenishing mechanism,

and this may be effected ina variety of ways:

In the present instance of the invention the feeler stand 19 has pivotally connected thereto at 32 the arm 34 provided with en gaging or toe portion 35 which normally restsagainst the side of the feeler 22 when the parts are in normal position, as indicated in Fig. 1, and when'a supply of filling is present in the shuttle ona detecting beat, the feeler moves away from the engaging toe portion 35 on the arm. 34 as it is moved frontwardly and as indicated in Fig. 2. lVhen, however, the filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat and the rear end portion of the feeler is moved longitudinally along the filling carrier or bobbin by the frontward pressure and spring, as described, the side or lateral movement thus imparted to the feeler moves the arm 3l,'and through the connections to be described calls into action the replenishing mechanism.

- The arm 34; has connected to it at 36 the transmitter 37 one end portion ofwhich is connected at38 to'a bell crank 39 pivoted at 40 to a stand 41 rising from the loom frame. One arm of the bell crank 39, as:

.at 42, extends beneath the latch 6, the con- ,in'the path of the operating member 8 and call into action the replenishing mechanism. A stop 43 limits the movement of the bell crank 39 in one direction.

Changes may be made in some of the details, but it appears to be broadly new to connect the front end portion of the fecler to an arm for swing lg it laterally to increase the inclination the feeier relative l'o-the longitudinal axis of the shuttle on a detecting beat so that a feeler is rendered more sensitive to movement of its rear end longitudinally of the filling-carrier in the opposite direction by the frontward pressure upon it.

Claims:

1. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler stand, a feeler, an arm pivotally connected to the feeler and itself pivotally mounted on the feeler stand rearward of its pivotal connection with the feeler and acting to swing the front portion of the feeler laterally as the feeler is moved frontwardly on a detecting beat, a spring tensioned by the arm to move the rear end of the feeler laterally and held from effecting such movement by engagement of the feeler with the filling on a detecting beat until substantial exhaustion thereof.

2. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler, an arm pivotally connected to the front portion of the feeler and itself pivotally supported at a point rearward of its pivotal connection with the feeler to effect lateral movement of the front portion of the feeler and progressively increase its inclination to the longitudinal axis of the shuttle on each detecting beat, means tending to move the rear end of the feeler laterally on each detecting beat and held from effecting such movement by the filling until substantial exhaustion thereof, and means for effecting replenishment of filling. V p

3. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler which is supported to enter the shuttle on each detecting beat and be moved frontwardly by the frontward pressure an arm supporting the feeler and pivotally mounted to swing laterally as the feeler is moved frontwardly on each detecting beat to incline the feeler relative to the longitudinal axis of the shuttle and increase its sensitiveness to lateral movement or" its rear end under the frontward pressure, a

increase the sensitiveness of the feelerv to lateral displacement of itsrear end by the frontward pressure of a surface within the shuttle, and means for effecting replenishment of filling when the rear end of the feeler is displaced laterally, o

5. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler which enters the shuttle on each detecting beat and'is moved frontwardly by the frontward pressure, an arm connected to the front end of and supporting the feeler and mounted to swing the front end of the feeler laterally as the feeler pushed frontwardly on each detecting beat and thereby increase the sensitiveness 'of the feeler to lateral displacement of its rear end by the frontward pressure of a surface within the shuttle, a s ring tending to move the rear end of the eeler laterally in the same direction as the frontward pressure, and means for effecting replenishment of filling when the rear end of the feeler is displaced laterally.

6. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler which is supported toenter the shuttle on each detecting beat and be moved frontwardly by the frontward pressure, an arm connected to the feeler and pivotally mounted to swing laterally as the feeler is moved frontwardly on each detecting beat to incline the feeler relative to the longitudinal axis of the shuttle and increase its sensitiveness to lateral movement of its rear and under the frontward pressure, a spring tensioned by the swinging movement of the said arm and tending to move the rear end of the feeler along the filling carrier, and means actuated by lateral movement of the rear end of the feeler on a detecting beat to effect replenishment of filling.

7. A feeler mechanism comprising, in combination, a feeler member, an arm connected to the feeler to move its front portion laterally in one direction and increase the inclination of the feeler to the longitudinal axis of the shuttle on each detecting beat a toothed engaging portion carried by the feeler to engage the filling on a detecting beat and hold the rear end of the feeler from lateral movement in the opposite di rection by the frontward pressure against it until the filling is substantially exhausted, and means actuated by the lateral movement of the rear end of the feeler for replenishing the filling.

8. A feeler mechanism comprising, in combination, a feeler, an arm connected to the feeler member to move its front portion laterally in one direction and increase the inclination of the feeler to the longitudinal axis of the shuttle on each detecting beat, a toothed engaging portion carried by the feeler to engage the filling on a detecting beat and hold the rear end of the feeler from lateral movement in the opposite direction by the frontward pressure against it until the filling is substantially exhausted, means 7 9. In a feeler mechanism the combination 7 of a feeler, an arm pivotally connected to the front portion of the feeler and itself mounted for lateral swinging movement to carry the front end of the feeler laterally on a detecting beat, a spring that is tensioned by lateral movement of the front end of the feeler on a detecting beat and that tends to move the rear end of the feeler laterally, and means actuated by lateral movement of the rear end of the feeler for replenishing the filling. V

10. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler, a pivotally mounted arm, connections between the arm and the feeler constructed and arranged to support the feeler by the arm and to cause the feeler to assume a more inclined position as it is moved frontwardly on each detecting beat,'

stops for limiting the movement of the arm and feeler, and means operated by lateral movement of the feeler when the filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat to efi'ect replenishment of filling. V

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification. V

ISAAC SNOW. 

